US20040074764A1 - Electrolysis device - Google Patents

Electrolysis device Download PDF

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Publication number
US20040074764A1
US20040074764A1 US10/468,485 US46848503A US2004074764A1 US 20040074764 A1 US20040074764 A1 US 20040074764A1 US 46848503 A US46848503 A US 46848503A US 2004074764 A1 US2004074764 A1 US 2004074764A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
electrolyte
gas
electrolysis device
electrolysis
chamber
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/468,485
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English (en)
Inventor
Karl Lohrberg
Dirk Lohrberg
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Individual
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Individual
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Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of US20040074764A1 publication Critical patent/US20040074764A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B15/00—Operating or servicing cells
    • C25B15/08—Supplying or removing reactants or electrolytes; Regeneration of electrolytes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
    • C25B9/17—Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof
    • C25B9/19—Cells comprising dimensionally-stable non-movable electrodes; Assemblies of constructional parts thereof with diaphragms
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25B9/00—Cells or assemblies of cells; Constructional parts of cells; Assemblies of constructional parts, e.g. electrode-diaphragm assemblies; Process-related cell features
    • C25B9/70—Assemblies comprising two or more cells

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electrolysis device that has at least one horizontal electrolytic cell that has a housing and an anode with a membrane or diaphragm, and a cathode with a gas-diffusion electrode, as well as means for supplying and discharging gas into or out of the gas chamber of the cathode, and well as means for supplying and discharging electrolytes into or out of a first electrolytic chamber, and into or out of a second electrolytic chamber, the electrolytic chambers being separated from one another by the membrane or diaphragm.
  • An electrolysis device of this kind is described in EP-A-182 144.
  • the electrolyte is supplied and discharged by way of openings disposed on the edge between the electrodes. Because of this, the cross sectional area of the openings is restricted by the dimensions of the electrodes and the distance between them. Since the spacing between the electrodes amounts to only a few millimeters, the cross sectional area that is available for supplying and discharging the electrolyte is relatively small. For this reason, such electrolysis devices are suitable only for electrolytic cells that are connected electrolytically in parallel, since only small quantities of electrolyte pass through these.
  • gas-diffusion electrodes are hydrophobic since they contain a considerable quantity of Teflon that binds the carbon, so that they can in part be loaded with water columns greater than 500 mm without the water penetrating into the cells.
  • this is not the case in an electrolysis device since, when current is flowing and ions are present, the surface will be wetted even at pressures below 40 mm of water column.
  • hydraulic pressure increases as the length of pipe line through which there is a flow increases, so the pressure acting on the gas-diffusion electrode increases with the increasing number of cells connected electrolytically in series. This results in the highest pressure being found in the first cell, and the lowest pressure being found in the last cell. In such a case, flooding of the gas-diffusion electrode can only be prevented by maintaining a specific gas pressure in each individual cell.
  • the cross sectional areas of the openings is then no longer limited by the amount of space between the electrodes, but can be matched to the increased quantities of electrolyte by the appropriate layout of the frame geometry in the case of electrolytically series connection.
  • one disadvantage with such an arrangement of the openings is the additional requirement for a sealing frame that joins the membrane of the diaphragm to the frame so that it is gas-tight and liquid-tight, in order that the quantities in the individual chambers are prevented from mixing. Since it is located between the electrodes, such a frame also means that the distance between the electrodes and will be increased by the thickness of the frame. This causes the voltage drop in the electrolytes to increase and increases energy consumption.
  • the anode as well as the membrane or the diaphragm each have at least one opening for supplying electrolytes to the second electrolytic chamber, and at least one additional opening for discharging electrolytes from the second electrolytic chamber.
  • the membrane or the diaphragm be clamped so as to be gas and liquid tight in the area of the electrolyte supply opening and the electrolyte discharge opening in a sealing frame, the thickness of which does not exceed the thickness of the anode, and on the sealing frames and the seals that lie on the anodes.
  • Such an arrangement entails the advantage that the spacing between the electrodes is not affected by this clamping and the shear forces acting on the membrane or the diaphragm are minimized.
  • the individual baths are welded together, e.g., through explosive plated, bipolar rails.
  • the cells are welded together by way of such rails using a laser, when the welding range or the temperature zone can be so arranged spatially that any mixing of the different alloys involved, and thus corrosion, can be prevented.
  • it is simpler to manufacture an electrolytic cell if the anode and the cathode are of identical material, as is the case, for example, with a cell for producing hydrogen peroxide in alkaline solution using a gas-diffusion cathode. In this case, nickel can be used as the material.
  • the electrodes are simply connected to one another electrically through connectors or the cell walls themselves.
  • the housing of the electrolysis cell be formed from two plastic panels, between which the electrolysis chambers and the gas chamber are delimited by the use of frame-like seals.
  • the middle plastic panel(s) forms or form the bottom of the upper electrolysis cell and the cover of the electrolysis cell that is located below.
  • the electrolysis supply and discharge channels for the second electrolyte chamber can be incorporated in these plastic panels in a simple manner, in particular, by being milled into them. The same applies to the electrolyte supply and discharge channels for the first electrolyte chamber.
  • PP, PVC, and post-chlorinated PVC can be used as the plastic. These plastics are resistant to a number of chemicals, even at temperatures of up to approximately 80° C.
  • the plastic panels can be fitted with seals so that the necessary electrolyte and gas chambers are left between the electrodes and a plastic panel without incurring any major expense. Thus, it is possible to dispense with a material-intensive version with two baths, and without welding a partition into place.
  • the plastic panels be of materials that differ from one another since the anolyte and the catholyte consist of different compounds. Since the anolyte and the catholyte are routed across the identical plastic panel, these can more usefully consist of two different plastics.
  • the electrolyte discharge channels of the upper electrolysis cell can in each instance be electrically connected to the electrolyte supply channels of the electrolysis cell located below so as to permit a flow, by way of external connecting lines.
  • the present invention proposes that the anode and the cathode be routed out through the seals that delimit the electrolyte chambers and the gas chamber to the outside, and that they be fitted with their electrical connectors or connections from the anode to the cathode outside the chamber.
  • the electrical connectors or connections can also be located within the plastic panel, and edge recesses or openings can be provided for this purpose; they can also be arranged externally. The rigidity of the plastic panel will not be degraded in this case.
  • the materials used for the electrical connectors and connections can be selected as desired since these connectors and connections are no longer exposed to the chemical and thermal stresses generated by the electrolytes. For this reason, it is possible to use highly conductive copper, for example, which is not normally used at this location because of its poor chemical and thermal resistance. This leads to a favourable reduction of the cost entailed for the number and the dimensions of the electrical connectors and connections, to which must be added the corresponding conductor rails to which the electrical connections are made.
  • a gas supply channel and a gas removal channel pass through the plastic panels that define the electrolysis cell(s) and optionally the anodes and the cathodes, from above to below, whilst sealing the electrolyte chambers, and in a flow connection with the particular gas chamber.
  • the cross section of the supply and removal openings can thus be determined regardless of the thickness of the panel.
  • a further advantage of the possibility for converting large quantities of gas is the increased absorption of the evaporative heat that is generated at the gas diffusion electrode, so that internal cooling takes place and this then replaces external cooling and eliminates the costs that would be incurred for a heat exchanger.
  • electrolysis devices for use in gas diffusion electrolysis, and to do so in a simple and economical manner. No costly welding operations are needed.
  • the individual parts can be assembled directly at the intended site of operation, which means that the costs associated with intermediate assembly are eliminated and transportation costs can be reduced.
  • the combination of different materials for the electrodes and plastics means that cells for various electrolysis processes can be assembled in a cost-effective, modular system
  • FIG. 1 A diagrammatic representation of an the electrolysis device according to the present invention, which is assembled from four electrolysis cells;
  • FIG. 2 An enlarged view showing a section of a pair of electrodes in the area of an electrolyte supply opening or an electrolyte discharge opening;
  • FIG. 3 a plan view of a sealing frame as is used in FIG. 2.
  • the electrolysis device shown in FIG. 1 has four horizontal electrolysis cells that are stacked one above the other, and a housing 6 that is formed from plastic panels 6 ′, 6 ′′, the uppermost plastic panel 6 ′ forming a cover and the lowest plastic panel 6 ′′ forming a bottom for the uppermost or lowest electrolysis cell, respectively, whereas the middle plastic panel 6 ′′ simultaneously forms the bottom of the electrolysis cell that is located above it and the cover for the electrolysis cell that is located beneath it.
  • Each electrolysis cell has an anode 8 with a membrane or a diaphragm 18 , and a cathode 9 with a gas-diffusion electrode 17 , a first electrolyte chamber 4 being formed by the seals 11 , 12 , 13 as an anode chamber and a second electrolyte chamber 5 being formed as a cathode chamber, with a gas chamber 22 being formed on the outside of the cathode 9 .
  • Electrolyte 1 is routed by way of an electrolysis supply channel 19 ′ in the upper most plastic panel 6 ′ to an opening 19 in the anode 8 and to the associated membrane or to the associated diaphragm 18 and thus to the second electrolyte chamber 5 .
  • Electrolyte is removed from the second electrolytic chamber 3 through an electrolyte removal opening 20 into an electrolyte removal channel 20 ′ which analogously to the electrolyte supply channel 19 ′ is milled into the first uppermost plastic panel 6 ′ and runs from the second electrolyte chamber 5 first vertically and then horizontally.
  • Corresponding channels and openings also provided in the remaining plastic panels, and anodes and membranes or diaphragms.
  • the electrolyte 1 flows from the electrolyte removal channel 20 ′ laterally to the outside and into a connecting line 20 to the second plastic panel 6 ′′, which defines the uppermost electrolysis cell as the bottom and then into an electrolyte feed channel which corresponds to the supply channel 19 ′ of the uppermost plastic panel 6 ′, or until the electrolyte is discharged from the side of the next to last plastic panel 6 ′′ through an outlet tube 25 .
  • Gas for example, oxygen or air
  • a gas supply channel 21 that passes through all of the plastic panel 6 ′, 6 ′′ of the housing 6 that is sealed off from the electrolyte chambers 4 , 5 so as to be both gas and liquid tight, although there is a flow connection to the corresponding gas chamber 22 of the particular electrolysis cell.
  • the gas supply channel 21 opens out in the lowest gas chamber.
  • a vertical gas removal channel 23 extends from the first gas chamber 22 as far as a lower outlet opening in the lowest plastic panel 6 ′.
  • the plastic panel 6 ′, 6 ′′ there is in each instance an electrolyte supply or electrolyte discharge opening 16 of the first electrolysis chamber 4 (anode chamber) and the associated electrolyte supply and electrolyte discharge channels 16 ′.
  • the corresponding channels 16 ′ can also be milled into the plastic panel 6 ′, 6 ′′ in the same way as the channels 19 ′, 20 ′, as well as the gas passage openings which are aligned with each other and located in the edge area of the particular plastic panel 6 ′, 6 ′′ and form the vertical gas channels 21 , 23 .
  • FIG. 1 also shows that the electrodes 8 , 9 are routed out at the side through the seals that define the electrolyte chambers 4 , 5 and the gas chamber 22 and are in this way traversed by the vertical gas channels 21 , 23 .
  • the plastic panels 6 ′, 6 ′′ are provided with edge recesses 24 that are aligned with each other.
  • the contact rails 2 as well as the connectors 7 and the connections 7 ′ can be of a material, such as copper, that possesses good current-conducting properties.
  • the connectors 7 and the connections 7 ′ can also be secured to the anode 8 and the cathode 9 through clamping elements (not shown herein).
  • FIG. 2 shows how sealing is effected in the area of and in electrolyte supply opening 19 and in an electrolyte discharge opening 20 .
  • the gas diffusion electrode coating 17 on the cathode is continuous as far as the edge area of the cathode 9 , where it is covered by a sealing element 12 ; in the area of the openings 19 , 20 the membrane or the diaphragm 18 is angled upward so as to lie on a sealing frame 15 , which is no thicker than the anode 8 .
  • the sealing frame 15 is accommodated in a large cutout 27 in the anode 8 , and internally it defines the openings 19 , 20 .
  • the membrane or of the diaphragm 18 there is a sealing element 14 above the anode 8 .
  • the membrane or diaphragm 18 is clamped by the edge that faces the openings 19 , 20 between sealing frames 15 and sealing element 14 so as to be gas tight and liquid tight.
  • FIG. 3 shows that the sealing frame 50 , which is shown in FIG. 2 in vertical cross-section on the line II-II is narrow and its short sides are curved and thus enclose the openings 19 , 20 .

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electrolytic Production Of Non-Metals, Compounds, Apparatuses Therefor (AREA)
US10/468,485 2001-02-22 2002-01-03 Electrolysis device Abandoned US20040074764A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10108452A DE10108452C2 (de) 2001-02-22 2001-02-22 Elektrolyseeinrichtung
DE101084528 2001-02-22
PCT/EP2002/000008 WO2002068721A2 (de) 2001-02-22 2002-01-03 Elektrolyseeinrichtung

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20040074764A1 true US20040074764A1 (en) 2004-04-22

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ID=7675059

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/468,485 Abandoned US20040074764A1 (en) 2001-02-22 2002-01-03 Electrolysis device

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20040074764A1 (de)
EP (1) EP1409769A2 (de)
CA (1) CA2435571A1 (de)
DE (1) DE10108452C2 (de)
WO (1) WO2002068721A2 (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9979040B2 (en) 2013-02-27 2018-05-22 Airbus Ds Gmbh Redox device
CN110291228A (zh) * 2017-02-09 2019-09-27 亚森特股份有限公司 电解质的电解装置
WO2019218095A1 (es) * 2018-05-14 2019-11-21 Transducto S.A. Celda electrolítica de mono cámara y aparato a presión horizontal sellado para electro depositar metal desde soluciones electrolíticas

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2604217A1 (en) * 2005-04-15 2006-10-19 Innovative Hydrogen Solutions Inc. Electrolytic cell for an internal combustion engine
ES2672501T3 (es) * 2013-02-12 2018-06-14 Airbus Defence and Space GmbH Procedimiento para el funcionamiento de una célula electrolítica
KR20180128962A (ko) 2016-04-07 2018-12-04 코베스트로 도이칠란트 아게 클로르-알칼리 전기분해를 위한 이중기능성 전극 및 전기분해 장치
DE102022207328A1 (de) 2022-07-19 2024-01-25 Robert Bosch Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung Membran und Membran-Elektroden-Einheit für eine elektrochemische Zelle, sowie Elektrolysezelle und Verfahren zum Betreiben einer Elektrolysezelle

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4323435A (en) * 1979-02-23 1982-04-06 Ppg Industries, Inc. Method of operating a solid polymer electrolyte chlor-alkali cell
US4732660A (en) * 1985-09-09 1988-03-22 The Dow Chemical Company Membrane electrolyzer
US6110334A (en) * 1995-12-05 2000-08-29 Lohrberg; Karl Electrolyte cell
US20030150717A1 (en) * 2000-05-09 2003-08-14 Michael Gnann Bipolar multi-purpose electrolytic cell for high current loads

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4436608A (en) * 1982-08-26 1984-03-13 Diamond Shamrock Corporation Narrow gap gas electrode electrolytic cell
DE3420483A1 (de) * 1984-06-01 1985-12-05 Hoechst Ag, 6230 Frankfurt Bipolarer elektrolyseapparat mit gasdiffusionskathode
DE3439265A1 (de) * 1984-10-26 1986-05-07 Hoechst Ag, 6230 Frankfurt Elektrolyseapparat mit horizontal angeordneten elektroden
US4911993A (en) * 1988-02-01 1990-03-27 Eltech Systems Corporation Bipolar, filter-press, consumable metal anode battery
US5292405A (en) * 1992-06-17 1994-03-08 Baker Hughes Incorporated Electrolytic cell and method

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4323435A (en) * 1979-02-23 1982-04-06 Ppg Industries, Inc. Method of operating a solid polymer electrolyte chlor-alkali cell
US4732660A (en) * 1985-09-09 1988-03-22 The Dow Chemical Company Membrane electrolyzer
US6110334A (en) * 1995-12-05 2000-08-29 Lohrberg; Karl Electrolyte cell
US20030150717A1 (en) * 2000-05-09 2003-08-14 Michael Gnann Bipolar multi-purpose electrolytic cell for high current loads

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9979040B2 (en) 2013-02-27 2018-05-22 Airbus Ds Gmbh Redox device
CN110291228A (zh) * 2017-02-09 2019-09-27 亚森特股份有限公司 电解质的电解装置
WO2019218095A1 (es) * 2018-05-14 2019-11-21 Transducto S.A. Celda electrolítica de mono cámara y aparato a presión horizontal sellado para electro depositar metal desde soluciones electrolíticas

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2435571A1 (en) 2002-09-06
DE10108452C2 (de) 2003-02-20
DE10108452A1 (de) 2002-09-12
WO2002068721A3 (de) 2003-10-02
WO2002068721A2 (de) 2002-09-06
EP1409769A2 (de) 2004-04-21

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